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G4TNU  > NEWS     26.03.23 04:31l 260 Lines 12148 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 26 Mar 2023
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Sent: 230326/0326Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO $:3796G4TNU

T:From: G4TNU@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO <g4tnu@gb7ipf.ampr.org>
T:Newsgroups: ampr.news.europe
T:Message-Id: <E1_2912703_G4TNU@gb7ipf.ampr.org>

GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 26th of March 2023

The news headlines:

* RSGB Elections
* RSGB Membership and communications
* Coronation regional secondary locator

If you are an RSGB Member, don't forget to vote for the two 
candidates that you would like to see as Board Directors for the next 
two years. You can find out more about each of them on the RSGB 
website at rsgb.org/candidates and then there is a link at the top 
and the bottom of the page to cast your vote. Read their personal 
statements, watch the videos and see if their background, skills and 
aspirations match your view of what the Society needs. The decision 
about who to vote for is entirely yours, but please do vote – it 
only takes a few minutes and will help to ensure that the RSGB Board 
reflects your views. 

As the RSGB continues to expand the use of its new Membership and 
management systems, it will make greater use of electronic 
communications to advise Members of important changes to their fees, 
benefits and offers as well as to send notifications for important 
publications and events. If you are an RSGB Member, please remember 
to keep your preferences and personal information up to date, 
including your callsign and email address, by logging into the 
Society's Membership portal via rsgb.org/members or by contacting 
membership<at>rsgb.org.uk

As part of our Coronation celebration activities, Ofcom has 
approved "R" as the optional Coronation regional secondary locator 
prefix for all UK radio amateurs to use during May and June 2023. You 
will need to apply for a Notice of Variation – or NoV – and the 
form is now available on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/nov 

A group of radio amateurs in Jersey will be using special event 
callsign GB3KCJ as part of the Coronation celebrations. An 
opportunity exists for groups in each of the UK Nations who have a 
regional secondary locator, and the Crown Dependencies, to apply for 
similar special event callsigns. Applications for special event 
callsigns can be made through the Ofcom web portal, as usual. Using 
the same format as the Jersey special event station callsign, 
applicants might consider the following if they are available: 
Scotland: GB3KCM; Wales: GB3KCW; Northern Ireland: GB3KCI; Guernsey: 
GB3KCU; and the Isle of Man: GB3KCD.

The RSGB's Tonight<at>8 summer programme begins on Monday the 15th of 
May when Jack Purdum, W8TEE and Al Peter, AC8GY will talk about "The 
T41-EP ALPS: A High-Performance CW Decoder". Jack and Al collaborated 
to build the T41-EP, a seven-band, 20W, CW/SSB SDR transceiver but 
this presentation is chiefly about how they developed the 
high-performance CW decoder. The two were awarded the RSGB's Bennett 
Prize in 2021 for their article on their "Double-Double Magnetic 
Loop" antenna article in the February 2020 issue of RadCom. Full 
details of all the webinars in the summer programme are on our 
website – there are some great topics, so take a look and put the 
dates in your diary! Go to rsgb.org/webinars to find out more.

If you are an RSGB Member who is interested in online webinars and 
events, don't miss out! Log into the RSGB Members' portal, choose the 
preferences tab and click the online events option. The RSGB will be 
using this mailing list in future to send out details of forthcoming 
online events, for example the packed programme of Tonight<at>8 live 
webinars that are booked until July. Go to rsgb.org/members


And now for details of rallies and events 

The Hack Green Military Surplus and Military Radio Hanger Sale will 
take place on Sunday the 2nd of April. The venue will be Hack Green 
Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 8AL. The sale will 
include electronic equipment, amateur gear, components, military 
radio items and vehicle spares. For more information email 
coldwar<at>hackgreen.co.uk or visit www.hackgreen.co.uk

Yeovil Amateur Radio Club's 37th QRP Convention will take place on 
Saturday the 15th of April at The Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset 
DT9 3AA. Doors open from 9.30am to 1.30pm and admission is GBP 3. The 
Convention will feature talks, traders, bring and buy, club stalls 
and a café. For more information visit yeovil-arc.com or contact 
qrp<at>yeovil-arc.com

The Cambridgeshire Repeater Group Rally will take place on Sunday the 
16th of April. The venue will be Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, 
Foxton, Cambridge CB22 6RN. Doors open at 7.30am for traders and 
9.30am for visitors. Admission is GBP 3. The rally will feature 
talk-in, trade stands, bring and buy, an RSGB Bookstall and free car 
parking. For more information contact Lawrence, M0LCM on 
07941 972 724, email rally2023<at>cambridgerepeaters.net and see the 
cambridgerepeaters.net website.

The Holsworthy Spring Rally and Boot Sale will also take place on 
Sunday the 16th of April. The venue will be Holsworthy Livestock 
Market, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 7FA. There will be plenty of parking, 
wheelchair access and full catering available. The doors open to the 
public from 10am. For more details contact the club secretary Ken, 
G7VJA via email on m0omc<at>m0omc.co.uk and visit the m0omc.co.uk 
website.


Now the Special Event News

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the 
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of 
China on the 1st of July 1997, Hong Kong  licensed amateurs are 
granted the use of the special prefix VR25 until the 30th of June 
2023. The VR2 Contest Club, and the Hong Kong Amateur Radio 
Transmitting Society will be using VR25CC and VR25HK, respectively.

YR1400VT is the special callsign that members of Radio Club YO6KGS 
will be using until the 30th of June 2023 to popularise the newly 
inaugurated Via Transilvanica [VEE-A-TRANS-ILL-VAIN-ICA], a 
long-distance trail used for hiking, cycling and horse riding that 
crosses Romania. More information can be found on QRZ.com QSL via 
eQSL.

9A66AA is the special callsign that Tom, 9A2AA will be using 
throughout 2023 to mark his 66th year in amateur radio. QSL via Tom's 
home call.


Now the DX news

Neville, G3RFS will be active as 6Y5FS from Jamaica, NA-097, until 
the 29th of March. He will operate mainly using CW and some SSB. QSL 
via Logbook of the World, Club Log's OQRS, or via G4BWP.

Rich, PA0RRS will be active as 9M2MRS from Penang [PUH-NANG] Island, 
AS-015, West Malaysia until the 29th of March. He will operate using 
CW most of the time but will also use RTTY, FT8 and FT4 on the 40 to 
10m bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS is preferred, but also via Logbook 
of the World, or via PA0RRS.

Willy, ON4AVT will be active as 6W7/ON4AVT from Warang [WERE-ANG], 
Senegal until the 31st of March. He usually operates using FT8, with 
some SSB and CW, on the 80 to 10m bands. He will also be available on 
the QO-100 satellite. QSL via Club Log's OQRS is preferred, or via 
his home call.

Lars, SM6NT will be active as HS0ZME from Hua Hin [WHO-A-HIN], 
Thailand until the 2nd of  April 2023. He will operate mainly CW on 
the 40 to 10m bands. QSL via SM6NT.


Now the contest news

The CQ Worldwide WPX SSB Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 
25th of March and ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday the 26th of March. 
Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the 
exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Monday the 27th of March, the FT4 Series Contest runs from 1900 to 
2030UTC. Using FT4 on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is your 
report.

On Tuesday the 28th of March, the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 
1930 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 2.3GHz band, the exchange is 
signal report, serial number and locator.

On Wednesday the 29th of March, the UK and Ireland Contest Club 
Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the 
exchange is your six-character locator. 

On Saturday the 1st of April, the FT4 International Activity Day runs 
from 0800 to 2000UTC. Using FT4 on the 160 to 10m bands, where 
contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. 

The SP DX Contest starts at 1500UTC on Saturday the 1st of April and 
runs until 1500UTC on Sunday the 2nd of April. Using CW and SSB on 
the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is 
signal report and serial number. Polish stations send their province 
code.

On Sunday the 2nd of April, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest 
runs from 1000 to 1600UTC. Using All modes on the 1.3 to 3.4GHz 
bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.


Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO 
on Thursday 23rd of March 2023

The solar flux index dipped a little last week, down to 148, but it 
didn't last long and was back up to 159 by Thursday the 23rd. We were 
free of major solar flares with only one M-class flare occurring on 
the 20th.

Geomagnetic conditions were mainly settled as well, but that could 
change this weekend thanks to a large coronal hole.

The massive coronal hole on the Sun became Earth-facing on Thursday. 
A coronal hole is an area on the Sun's surface with open magnetic 
field lines, which allows plasma to flow out. They appear dark when 
photographed in extreme UV light. 

Although the bulk of the hole is south of the Sun's equator, a long 
finger reaches out to the equator, which makes it a potential threat 
to Earth.

All eyes will be on the Kp index over the weekend as we expect it to 
increase, possibly dramatically as the solar wind impacts us. Solar 
wind speeds are likely to be in excess of 600km/s and continue into 
the weekend, resulting in isolated G1 storm levels. Keep an eye on 
solarham.net for updates.

We are now at the spring equinox, so it is a prime time for auroral 
activity. The spring equinox traditionally brings greater solar 
activity which results in an increased frequency of auroral displays.

It is also a prime time for north-south HF paths, such as the UK to 
South Africa, and the UK to South America.

Next week, the US Air Force predicts that the solar flux index will 
decline slightly to bring it into the range of 130 to 140. Once the 
weekend's solar storm declines, we may expect a few days of 
relatively calm geomagnetic conditions before another period of 
unsettled space weather is predicted for Thursday the 30th and Friday 
the 31st. This could see the Kp index rise to five once again.


And now the VHF and up propagation news

The overall unsettled nature of the current weather pattern is likely 
to continue for much of the period through to the end of next week, 
except for a brief ridge of high pressure crossing the country after 
the weekend. 

This might offer the only tropo potential for VHF operators. The rest 
of the time will probably be beset by bands of rain, showers and, at 
times, strong winds and introduce the prospect of some rain scatter 
on the GHz bands. 

It's a week to focus on fleeting tropo, rain scatter and aurora as 
modes of choice. As we said earlier, aurora is worth looking out for 
since the solar conditions are still very disturbed. As usual, good 
indicators are the Kp index values, which ideally should be five or 
greater to get our attention.

The meteor shower calendar is still in its quiet period, and with no 
major showers to look for, it would be best to try your luck with 
random meteors, which tend to peak just before dawn.

The Sporadic-E season has not started yet but is getting closer, say 
from mid-April on 10m, perhaps.

For EME operators, Moon declination reaches maximum next Tuesday 
meaning long Moon availability windows. Path losses increase 
throughout the week and 144MHz sky noise starts out moderate, falling 
to low next weekend. 

And that's all from the propagation team this week.


And that's the end of the main news for this week prepared by the
Radio Society of Great Britain.  Items for inclusion in subsequent
bulletins can be emailed to  radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
10:00 on the Thursday before transmission.


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